Three regional hospitals are recognized as top performers in the annual ranking by U.S. News & World Report.
Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest has been recognized as the top hospital in the Lehigh Valley, the report said. This is the eighth straight year LVH–Cedar Crest has been ranked No. 1 by the magazine, which also has recognized the hospital nationally among America’s Best Hospitals in various medical specialties 23 times since 1996.
LVH–Cedar Crest is the only hospital in the region ranked in the top five among Pennsylvania hospitals.
The report recognized Reading Hospital – Tower Health as a Best Hospital for 2021-2022, ranking it eighth in the state and recognized in Northeastern PA/Lehigh Valley. Reading Hospital was also nationally ranked number 50 in pulmonology and lung surgery and high performing in gastroenterology and GI Surgery, geriatrics, orthopedics, and urology.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical center was ranked one of the best hospitals in the nation for 2021-22 in orthopedic care, the report said. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation has been recognized for clinical care.
Hershey Medical Center provides patients across south central Pennsylvania and beyond with exceptional care for bone, joint and spine disorders, the report said. Specialists provide high-level care in all aspects of orthopedics, including joint reconstruction, musculoskeletal trauma, sports medicine, spinal disorders, hand surgery, soft tissue injuries and conditions and metabolic bone disease such as osteoporosis, the report said.
“This ranking is a validation of what we believe our patients already know – that our physicians, nurses and staff are committed to providing them with exceptional health care every day,” said Dr. April Armstrong, chair of Hershey’s Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
LVH-Cedar Crest also earned a high performing rating in six adult specialties including: Gastroenterology and GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology and Lung Surgery, and Urology. “High Performing” means LVH–Cedar Crest is ranked in the top 10 percent nationally of hospitals that received a score in each of these specialties.
LVH–Cedar Crest also is listed as high-performing in 14 common adult procedures and conditions tracked by U.S. News including: abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortic valve surgery, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart bypass surgery, heart failure, hip replacement, kidney failure, knee replacement, lung cancer surgery, stroke and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
“This recognition is a testament to the experience, expertise and compassion of the doctors, nurses, advanced practice clinicians and other talented team members who care for our patients every day across our health network.” said Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, LVHN’s president and chief executive officer.
Hershey Medical Center is also recognized as high performing in five additional specialties: gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery, pulmonology and lung surgery and urology.
The annual Procedures & Conditions ratings are designed to assist patients and their doctors in making informed decisions about where to receive care for common conditions and elective procedures. These ratings extend beyond the Best Hospitals rankings, which are geared toward complex specialty care.
In addition to the national ranking, Reading Hospital received high performing marks regionally in the following specialty care: COPD, colon cancer surgery, diabetes, heart attack, heart failure, hip replacement, kidney failure, knee replacement, lung cancer surgery, pneumonia, and stroke.
Therese Sucher, interim CEO at Reading Hospital said, “Every member of the Reading Hospital team is committed to providing the best care to our patients. As a leading healthcare provider in the region we take this role very seriously.”
For the 2021-22 ratings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,750 medical centers nationwide in 17 procedures and conditions. Fewer than a third of all hospitals received any high-performing rating, and only 11 earned this rating in all procedures and conditions. The state and metro area rankings recognize hospitals that received high performing ratings across multiple areas of care.
“This year’s expanded report from U.S. News includes new ratings for important procedures and conditions to help each patient pick the right hospital for the type of care they need,” said Ben Harder, managing editor and chief of health analysis at U.S. News. “Hospitals faced incredible challenges this past year, and the best of them have provided great care throughout the pandemic and continue to offer excellent care today.”
The U.S. News methodology is based on objective measures of quality such as risk-adjusted outcome rates, volume, quality of nursing and other care-related indicators.
The Procedures & Conditions ratings were produced by U.S. News analysts.